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Fingal Communities truly shine and come together in the Summer Sunshine
Summer in Fingal has a rhythm all of its own. As the evenings stretch longer and the coastline glows under late sunsets, towns and villages across the county come alive with festivals, markets, concerts and sporting events that showcase the very best of community spirit. From Skerries to Balbriggan, Malahide to Swords, summertime in Fingal is not simply about tourism or entertainment — it is about people.
Every year, local volunteers, community groups and small businesses work tirelessly behind the scenes to create events that bring neighbours together and welcome visitors from across Ireland and beyond. Whether it is organising family fun days, supporting local arts festivals, running charity races or coordinating seaside celebrations, these efforts are driven by pride in place and a genuine commitment to community life.
Events such as the Skerries Traditional Music Weekend, the Flavours of Fingal festival in Newbridge House and Farm, and local summer fairs throughout the county highlight
the creativity and energy that exist in Fingal year-round. They also provide a vital boost for local traders, cafés, musicians, craftspeople and food producers who depend on the busy summer season.
What makes these festivals special is their authenticity. They are not manufactured attractions but community-led celebrations rooted in local identity. The people serving tea at parish halls, stewarding events, decorating streets or coaching children in summer sports camps are the heartbeat of Fingal. Their dedication creates spaces where families gather, friendships grow and traditions are passed from one generation to the next.
Summertime also reminds us of the importance of preserving the unique character of Fingal’s towns, villages and coastal communities. As the county continues to grow and develop, supporting local events and organisations remains essential in maintaining that strong sense of belonging that residents value so deeply.
The Locals Team
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STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION:
Submissions by the 15th for inclusion in next months edition Donabate & Portrane
Let’s Get Sustainable in Donabate and Portrane
Donabate Portrane Sustainable Energy Community (DPSEC) is a volunteer group working to make our community more sustainable through practical, inclusive events.
The group was established in late 2023 by a group of locals passionate about climate action, biodiversity, and community empowerment.
Our objectives include improving the energy efficiency of buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy, helping nature to thrive, and promoting more sustainable consumer behaviour and transport choices.
In 2024, we were delighted to be awarded over €15,000 in Climate Action Funding from Fingal County Council, in partnership with Donabate Portrane Community Centre. With this funding, we were able to purchase items for the Community Centre which help to promote sustainable living and the circular economy. These include a set of reusable cups, a bike repair station, five new bike lockers, clothing rails for swap shops, five sewing machines, and raised beds for growing food.
We also collaborated with the local Scout Den on the most recent Climate Action Fund and are currently waiting to hear if it was successful.
One of our most popular initiatives has been our clothing swap shops, which take place every few months on a Saturday afternoon in the
Community Centre. A swap shop is a place where people can bring items they no longer need and take home items they will use, for free. This helps to keep our resources in circulation for longer and reduce the cost of living for families. We have organised special swap shops for Halloween costumes, Christmas jumpers, and at the Portrane Summer Festival.
We also hold repair cafés at our swap shops, where one of our volunteers can help you to repair an old item of clothing, or to practice simple sewing and mending techniques on scrap fabric. We can help with both sewing machine and hand sewing skills.
We have lots more projects in the pipeline (or electricity line!), so keep an eye on our social media to find out what’s happening next- just scan the QR code on this page.
We love collaborating with other organisations like community groups, businesses, public bodies and social enterprises to share knowledge and resources and maximise our ability to achieve our vision. Equally, we are always looking for new volunteers to join the organising committee or provide one-off support for events.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at donabateportranesec@gmail.com or on social media if you would like to collaborate or support our work - we would love to hear from you!
Making Time For Budgeting Is Important
By Dave Kavanagh
Everything you eat, drink, wear, own, where you live, travel to and how you get there, are all connected to your finances. Yet most people don’t give budgeting the time and importance it deserves, especially as it could leave you with more money left over each month. A few practical tips:
Carefully study 3 months’ bank statements. Make sure that you can account for every single transaction. On a regular basis, I encounter people who have been paying for things that they should not be, direct debits they forgot to cancel. Make a detailed list for grocery shopping (and don’t shop while hungry). This leads to only buying what you actually need, a lower bill at the till and less throwing out of food gone off. Compare before you shop for larger items. Just because one store has a fridge you want reduced from €950 to €850 in their “Sale”, does not mean another store nearby that does not currently have a sale on, is not selling the same one for €799. Compare utility providers. Whether it’s electricity, gas, broadband, mobile phone service or similar, there can be substantial savings to be had by switching to better deals.
Check when car/house insurance renewals arrive. Don’t automatically accept a renewal premium without checking around. A few phone
calls could save you hundreds of euro. Review premiums on life cover/mortgage protection/serious illness cover. Especially if you arranged it directly with a bank or insurance company that could not compare. Do an exercise where you track spending for one month. In over 30 years of helping people with their finances, I have never seen anyone NOT make savings by doing the above. If anyone would like the free budget spreadsheet in excel format that will calculate totals as you input them, just email info@financialcompanion.ie with Budget in the subject line. Happy saving!
Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can be contacted by emailing info@ financialcompanion.ie or use the contact form on www.financialcompanion.ie or @Davekav_ advice on Twitter and Instagram. Combined with his previous role of gym/nutrition adviser, he regularly gives talks and workshops at seminars and events for groups, companies and government departments on financial wellbeing, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM, LMFM and TV3.
Donabate Author Releases New Book Series
Pam Lecky, a local crime writer, living in Donabate has just released a brand new crime series: The Clew Bay Detectives, which will be published on the 16th of June.
Set in the fictional village of Glenfinn near Westport along the Wild Atlantic Way in County Mayo, Ireland, the series follows Ali Brennan, a landscape designer with a surprising talent for solving crimes. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered on a remote island in Clew Bay, Ali and her nephew Gavin are drawn into the complex mystery surrounding his murder. Welcome to Westport, where the wild beauty of Ireland’s western coast hides deadly secrets… Reeling from a devastating breakup, landscape
gardener Ali Brennan escapes to the small coastal town of Westport, hoping its rugged shoreline and quiet rhythms will help her rebuild her life. But peace is short lived when wealthy landowner John Clifford-Murphy is found dead on a remote island in Clew Bay – alone, and inexplicably without his phone or vital medication.
The local Gardaí are quick to rule the death an accident. Ali isn’t so sure… especially when Clifford-Murphy’s widow begs her to look more closely. Joined by her enthusiastic collegedropout nephew, Gav, Ali begins to ask questions the tight-knit community would rather leave unanswered. And when her ex-boyfriend,
Detective Aidan Cahill, turns up to inform her that her life is under threat, Ali is forced to confront the past she thought she’d left behind.
As secrets surface, the danger escalates. When Ali herself becomes a target – waking terrified and alone on the shores of nearby lake Doo Lough – it’s clear the investigation has drawn her into something far darker than she ever imagined. Can Ali uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?
The series is published by Storm Publishing with the second book in the series slated for publication in November 2026, and the third in June 2027.
Pam Lecky
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*RRSP excludes dealer delivery and related charges. *Combined energy consumption of the Grande Panda Range (kWh/100km)16.8 Fuel consumption WLTP Combined l/100km: 5.0/5.1. :0-117; CO2 emissions (g/km. Electric range (km): 320 according to EU directive 1999/94. Values determinedbased on ongoing official tests prescribed by the approval procedure and measured according to the WLTP cycle. Preliminary values subject to confirmation during the approval process. The values indicated are for comparison purposes only. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions figures may vary depending on actual usage conditions and various factors, such as options, temperature, driving style, speed, vehicle weight, specific equipment (air conditioning, heating system radio, navigation, lights, etc.), tyres, road conditions, weather, etc. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Some features may be optional with an additional cost or temporarily unavailable.
The latest from Lambay Cinema Club
To mark the end of our Spring/Summer 26 season, Lambay Cinema Club is pleased to present The Ballad of Wallis Island – the hit 2025 UK comedy that one reviewer called “Warm, perceptive and quietly lifeaffirming.”
The film centres on an eccentric lottery winner called Charles Heath and his attempt to force the reunion of two of his musical heroes.
Musician Herb McGwyer made his name in a popular folk duo with former creative and romantic partner Nell Mortimer. Now a struggling solo artist, Herb accepts a lucrative offer from Heath to perform a private gig on a remote island. The appearance fee will fund Herb’s new album. But it turns out Charles - who has very personal reasons for organising the gighas also invited Nell to play, forcing Herb into an unexpected McGwyer Mortimer reunion.
Co-writers and co-stars Tom Basden and Tim Key, alongside director James Griffiths, have delivered a winning crowd-pleaser
with The Ballad of Wallis Island. With a perfect mix of humour and poignant character work, this film is a total charmer.
The Ballad of Wallis Island will be shown at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church in The Square, Donabate (K36 Y521) on Thursday June 11th at 8:00pm.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday 4th June at 9:00am and cost €10 (€8 for students/ OAPs)
To celebrate the onset of Summer, we will be providing a complementary wine reception before the screening.
For more information and to buy tickets, please visit lambaycinemaclub.com
We will be taking a break over the Summer with our Autumn season kicking off in September. To make sure you are kept up to date with our latest news, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and make sure you are signed up to our mailing list. Visit our website for details.
If you want to get in touch, email us at info@lambaycinemaclub.com
Donabate Library team claim Kinia Hydrogen Grand Prix Team Spirit Award
Donabate Library was strongly represented at the Inaugural Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) at the National Arena on Thursday, 23rd April, with ‘Ecomotion Donabate’ being awarded the Team Spirit award, which honours teams demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship, collaboration and resilience. The team was made up of Blaze, Sarah, Savanagh, Robyn and Beabhínn who took part in the , the 3.5-hour endurance race.
The event was the culmination of an education STEM programme where students designed,
built and raced hydrogen-powered remote-control cars. Five teams from across the country qualified for the national finals after winning their regional H2GP Sprint race.
The H2GP is a global racing series and empowers the next generation of engineers, problem-solvers and clean energy champions. Through hands-on, project-based learning students get to enjoy the buzz of designing, building and racing hydrogen-powered cars while
also gaining real-world experience in renewable energy technologies.
Speaking about the event, Marianne Checkley, CEO Kinia said:
“Today was a great success and we want to commend all the teams and their teachers. An incredible amount of time was put in from each team and they should all be very proud of their achievement of being involved in the first ever H2GP PRO national final.
CAR REVIEW
New Fiat 600e will Electrify Your Emotions
By Declan Glynn
The stunning new Fiat 600 takes the best of the B and B-SUV worlds to offer a beautiful, joyful and pampered driving experience, marking the Italian brand’s return to the highly-competitive B-segments. Available in both hybrid and fullyelectric, the new Fiat 600 is an ideal car for Irish roads, and the perfect embodiment of the brand’s values of celebrated Italian style and sustainability. It is the fully-electric Fiat 600 (badged 600e) that is the subject of this review.
Latest Electrified Platform
The fully-electric 600e uses the latest Stellantis e-CMP2 platform, with its integrated battery design boosting rigidity in the process. Its 156hp electric motor sits transversely within the platform and it sends its power to the cars’ front wheels in a composed and responsive fashion. The new 600 features a sharper and more assertive face than its Fiat 500 sibling, and it comes with a distinctive LED lighting identity. The elegant, yet dynamic, exterior look is enhanced by stylish wheels, matt black wheel arches, and black trim elements around its lower edges to emphasise its
robust nature. The characterful exterior styling is replicated in the cabin where its smart interior design is both visually impressive and pleasingly practical for up to 5 occupants. With all rear seats in their upright position, the boot has a capacity of 360-litres, but this can be expanded to 1,256-litres when the rear seats are folded down.
Three Trim Grades
The lithium-ion batteries in the 600e come with a 54kWh capacity that provides a range of up to 408km on a WLTP combined driving cycle, and more than 600km on a city-only driving cycle. The 600e is equipped with a 100kW fastcharger system and it comes with a 11kW onboard charger and a Mode 3 cable for charging at home, or in public. The electric powertrain produces 156hp and 260Nm of instant torque, providing acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 9-seconds. With the 600e, buyers can choose between Pop, Icon, and La Prima trim grades, with prices starting from just €28,495 (inclusive of SEAI Grant & VRT Rebate).
Car on Review
My review car was a Fiat 600e, which was finished in black metallic paintwork. On the road is where the new 600e really comes into its own. The electric motor is impressively quiet, and the cabin is well insulated from road, wind and tyre noise. The centre console-mounted gear selector is of the push-button variety and is super-intuitive in its operation. The 600e is an easy and undemanding car to drive, and its manoeuvrability along congested city streets is so easy to get used to. With the Sport drive mode selected, the accelerator pedal response is sharpened, and all of the motor’s power is made available for an enhanced driving experience. There is a nicely-weighted feel to the steering and the car maintains good grip through sharp bends and tight corners. The suspension in the 600e is comfort-oriented, so that all occupants can benefit from a cossetting ride quality on every journey. It is a highly commendable car in every respect.
Medicinal Mushrooms: Nature’s Health Powerhouse With Susan
This month we will discuss the benefits and uses of medicinal mushrooms. I was fortunate to train under Martin Powell, author of Medicinal Mushrooms: A Clinical Guide, and here is a brief overview of why medicinal mushrooms can be beneficial when prescribed correctly.
Medicinal mushrooms are certain fungi used as food supplements because they may support health in various ways. They have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and are now growing in popularity with the general public. These mushrooms are not the same as common button mushrooms used in cooking, although some edible mushrooms also provide beneficial nutrients.
Medicinal mushrooms are typically taken as teas, powders, capsules, or extracts. One of the main reasons people use medicinal mushrooms is their possible effect on the immune system. They contain compounds such as Beta glucans, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6, which may help the body defend itself and reduce cell damage. Some species are also studied for their antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects. Medicinal mushrooms can also support general wellness. They may be included in daily routines to help with energy, digestion, or stress support, depending on the type.
Reishi, Turkey tail, Chaga, and Shiitake are among the most well known varieties. Turkey tail is often
linked with immune support, while Chaga is commonly discussed for its antioxidant content. These products are usually sold as supplements rather than as medicines, which means they may support health but are not a cure for serious illness. It is important to choose products from trusted brands and to avoid taking medicinal mushrooms without guidance from a qualified health professional.
Talk to a doctor before using them, especially if you are pregnant, taking medication, or have a long term health condition, since they can cause unwanted side effects or allergies. Professional advice helps ensure they are safe and appropriate for your individual health needs. In simple terms, medicinal mushrooms are a natural option some people use to support immunity, nutrition, and overall wellbeing when used carefully and as part of a healthy lifestyle. The following are generally discussed as functional mushrooms—meaning they are used for wellness support rather than as everyday food.
1. Reishi: Often described as calming and adaptogenic; commonly associated with stress support, sleep, and immune modulation.
2. Lion’s Mane: Best known for cognitive support; often linked to focus, memory, and nerve health.
3. Cordyceps: Commonly used for energy and stamina; associated with
exercise performance and endurance.
4. Chaga: Valued for its antioxidant content; often linked to immune support and anti inflammatory effects.
5. Turkey Tail: Known for immune and gut support; contains compounds often studied for microbiome and immune function.
6. Shiitake: Used for general immune support and heart health related benefits, especially cholesterol management.
7. Maitake: Often associated with
immune support and metabolic health, including blood sugar regulation.
A simple way to think about them: Reishi is the “calming” mushroom, Lion’s mane the “brain” mushroom, Cordyceps the “energy” mushroom, Chaga the “antioxidant” mushroom, and Turkey tail the “immune/gut” mushroom.
In Wellness Susan susangrahamcoaching@gmail.com
A24’s ‘The Drama’ is a Beautiful Trainwreck
By Jack Shanley
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama (2026) is a brilliantly uncomfortable, darkly funny anti-romance that turns the classic wedding movie upside down. Known for his talent for capturing social anxiety, Borgli delivers an unforgettable ride about what happens when you discover a dark secret about the person you love.
The story follows Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson), a charming, deeplyin-love couple on the fast track to marriage. However, just days before their wedding, a drunken party game with friends changes everything. Emma makes a jaw-dropping confession about her teenager years—revealing that she once planned a school shooting. This bombshell derails the group’s dynamic, and Charlie begins to spiral into an obsessive paranoia, wondering if he ever really knew his fiancée at all.
What makes The Drama so compelling is the incredible chemistry between its two leads. Zendaya gives a powerhouse, nuanced performance as Emma. She brilliantly captures the vulnerability of someone carrying immense guilt, showing a deep emotional weight through her facial expressions alone. Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson excels at playing Charlie with a mix of awkward, everyday charm and creeping desperation. His internal panic is often brought to life through surreal, dreamlike sequences where he literally imagines a younger version of
Emma holding a weapon.
The film relies heavily on “second-hand embarrassment” and high-wire tension. Watching Emma and Charlie put on happy faces for their wedding photographer and dance instructor while their relationship is crumbling at home is both hilarious and excruciating. Borgli masterfully balances pitch-black humour with genuine emotional chaos, leading to a wedding reception climax that is spectacularly messy and impossible to look away from. Alana Haim also stands out as the fiercely judgmental maid of honour, delivering a passive-aggressive toast that will go down in cinema history. Visually, the film looks elegant, using a bright, sunny wedding colour palette that contrasts sharply with the psychological horror brewing underneath. It explores heavy themes of radical acceptance, social pressure, and the boundaries of empathy without offering easy answers or a neat moral conclusion.
If you are looking for a standard, feel-good romantic comedy, The Drama is definitely not it. But if you appreciate bold, unconventional storytelling that will leave you squirming in your seat and talking long after the credits roll, it is a must-watch. I’d recommend checking out ‘The Drama’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of FOUR stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Kristoffer Borgli – Rating: 15A – Genre: Romance/ Drama– Run Time: 1h 46m Language: English. For more film content please follow @screen_. addicts on Instagram.
Busy Summer ahead for Men’s Shed
May was a busy time at Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed’s plots at Turvey allotments, with continuous tending, watering and weeding, which will continue into June. But it is hoped that all the hard work will pay off with the promise of a bumper chop despite the late planting due to the abnormally wet winter.
Last month, Gerry and the Plonkers (the Men’s Shed’s music group) were honoured to be asked to play at an appreciation do in the Grand
Hotel, in Malahide, for Alone volunteers. Alone is a wonderful charitable organisation, which provides support for vulnerable older people. So, it was a privilege for the band to provide the entertainment at this event. By all accounts, the volunteers and the band had a very enjoyable afternoon.
Recently our new member, Ray, took on the role of outing organiser for the Shed and has
already arranged a visit in June to the Croke Park Museum and has other outings in the pipeline. Our regular weekly activities of music practice on Mondays, croquet in Newbridge Park on Tuesday, exercise classes and a get-together for a cuppa and chat on Thursdays.
If you or someone close to you would like to join us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 0863694316.
Triumphs at Home and Abroad for LSA Athletes
Over the past few months, LSA has enjoyed a hugely successful and exciting period, with athletes producing outstanding performances both at home and on the international stage.
At the end of March, Dara Carr delivered an incredible performance representing Ireland at the European Masters in Toruń, setting a new national record in her age category. International success continued as Sinéad Farrell earned selection to represent Ireland at the World U23 Skyrunning Championships in Croatia following her victory in the Wicklow Way Half Marathon. Sinéad returned home with a silver medal in the 5km race and a bronze medal overall across the weekend’s combined events.
Anna Gavigan kept the international success alight, winning the Ter Specke Bokaal in Amsterdam with a superb throw of 53.73m.
Closer to home, LSA athletes impressed at the Dublin Graded Meeting. Xavi Hubert claimed bronze in the Men’s Senior High Jump Championships with a season’s best of 1.60m, while Léa Hubert and Michelle Branigan delivered strong sprint performances and personal bests. The momentum continued at Dublin Graded Meet 2, where PBs came thick and fast across the squad, alongside another gold medal for Anna Gavigan in the Dublin Championship Discus.
The club also proudly hosted its first ever Women in Sports event, where Dara Carr and Anna Gavigan shared inspiring stories and highlighted the importance of encouraging young girls and women to stay involved in sport.
Meanwhile, LSA athletes took on some of the world’s biggest marathons. Alexandria Conway and Ciara Cullen completed the iconic Boston Marathon, marking their 5th marathon major. Outstanding performances also came from Alex Wood at the Connemara Half Marathon, Stephan Bueck at the Vienna City Marathon, and Darragh Doherty at the Manchester Marathon.
Congratulations to all our athletes on their incredible achievements.
We have a strong club presence heading to Cork at the end of May for the Cork City Marathon and Half Marathon! Wishing them all the very best of luck!
Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our website and social media pages!
Website https://lambaysportsathletics.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy
https://www.instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/
Adult memberships queries: lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com
Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18) : lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com
Donabate Athletes Ready to compete at Special Olympic Games
Table quiz fundraiser raises €5,500 to support athletes who will represent our community at the Special Olympics Ireland Games in June!
16 athletes and 6 volunteer coach chaperones from Donabate Portrane Special Olympics Club will proudly represent communities across Fingal at the Special Olympics Ireland Games, taking place in sports venues around Dublin from 18th–21st June. This is a fantastic achievement for the Special Olympics club and one they are incredibly proud of.
To support the costs associated with these athletes attending the Games, a team of volunteers from Donabate Portrane Special Olympics Club held a fundraising event on the evening of Wednesday the 29th of April. 37 teams gathered on the night to participate in a table quiz and to have a chance of winning some of the amazing raffle prizes on offer, which were kindly donated by local businesses.
Club volunteer Louise Duffy said ‘We are incredibly grateful for all of the support we have
received with our event, whether it was by way of attending, buying raffle tickets or donating a raffle prize. The night really highlighted the generosity and community spirit that is out there. Sending athletes and chaperones to the Ireland Games will cost our club over €10,000, so the €5,500 raised at our table quiz event will go a long way in ensuring that our selected athletes get to take advantage of this amazing opportunity’.
The club would like to thank the following local businesses and donors for making the event such a huge success. Donabate Portrane Tennis & Golf Club, Bliss, Eamon Lawless, Windward Management Hotels, Cadbury Chocolate, Newbridge House, Roganstown House & Country Club, Donabate Community Centre, Corballis Farm Horse Trekking & Therapeutic Riding Centre, Maxol Donabate, Iarlaith Keane, Supervalu Donabate, Razors Edge Barbershop, Keeling’s Pub, The Brook Pub, Jones Garden Centre, McCartan Pharmacy Donaghmede, Adelle Cully Ceramics, Pasta Castello, Cates
Café, House of Hounds, Ciara Lee, The Sea Sauna, Donabate Pharmacy, Tobin’s Pharmacy Donabate, Life Pharmacy Donabate, Esthetique, Vik Barbers, CrepeBerry’s, Beacus Beag, Sea Scoops, Tower Bay Brew & Grogan’s Portrane. Special Olympics Ireland, provides yearround sports training, athletic competition, and developmental programmes for almost 7000 athletes annually. Giving our athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
From 18th-21st June 2026, over 1,200 athletes and thousands of volunteers and supporters will come together for the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games - a thrilling competition and a celebration of the skill, determination, and abilities of athletes. See Ireland Summer Games 2026 | The Special Olympics for more information.
WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!!
This is easy… we are offering you the chance to win €50. All you have to do is correctly fill in the crossword and discover the name of an area in Fingal spelt out in the coloured squares. Then send the completed crossword and your answer by email, with your name, address and telephone number to communitylocals@gmail.com before 5pm on July 16. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck!
Across
1. Declines to vote either for or against a proposal. (8)
6. Earn duvets during exciting experiences. (10)
13. Very light wood used for making models. (5)
14. Find a cheap rasp in the junk pile. (9)
15. Walk at a slow, relaxed pace. (5)
16. People whose behaviour sets them apart from others. (7)
18. The Welsh national emblem. (4)
19. Ran away from danger. (4)
20. Gigantic mythological bird of the Arabian Nights. (3)
22. Golden-brown shade of normally pale skin after exposure to the sun. (3)
23. Wooden frame for an artist. (5)
25. “A .... by any other name would smell as sweet.” (4)
27. The second son of Adam and Eve. (4)
30. A state of confusion or disorder. (6)
31. Cat-sized American mammals with a noxious reputation. (6)
33. Spice made from dried and ground mild red peppers. (7)
34. Imaginary event during sleep. (5)
35. A continuous or prolonged dull pain. (4)
36. The Earth’s largest and most populous continent. (4)
37. Official tests. (5)
40. Home of the Papacy from 1309 to 1376. (7)
41. Put more bullets in a gun. (6)
42. Two-piece bathing suit and an atoll. (6)
44. Very big, enormous. (4)
45. Soft loose flesh on a person’s body, fat. (4)
46. The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. (5)
48. To ... is human; to forgive, divine. (3)
50. Cut off a limb from the main body of a tree. (3)
52. The fleshy underparts of human fingers. (4)
54. The last bit of a pencil. (4)
56. Layered Italian dish. (7)
59. Strongly wanting to do or have something. (5)
60. Restaurant in which customers serve themselves. (9)
61. Type of bullet used in training or as a signal. (5)
62. Meddled in a situation without invitation or necessity. (10)
63. Famous buccaneer from Rush. (4,4)
Down
2. South American weapon consisting of balls and strong cord. (5)
3. It can be Oolong, Black or Pu-erh. (3)
4. Demanded something forcefully. (8)
5. Walks in a leisurely way. (7)
6. Enough or more than enough, plentiful. (5)
7. Look at or inspect. (4)
8. Asian country with eight of the ten tallest mountains. (5)
9. African country, capital is Kampala. (6)
10. A small piece or glowing fuel in a dying fire. (5)
11. Detested, loathed. (10)
12. A Latin acknowledgement of one’s fault or error. (3,5)
17. Creator of James Bond. (3,7)
21. It separates us from Great Britain. (5,3)
22. Meddling with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorised alterations. (9)
24. Type of wild cat. (4)
26. Reddish-brown colour of early photographs. (5)
28. The air bridge hides a military commander. (9)
29. Food served before meals. (10)
32. Type of cabbage, (8)
35. Declare a marriage to have had no legal existence. (5)
38. Ruined or destroyed vessels. (10)
39. Walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps like a British police officer. (4)
40. Hero of the Trojan Wars with a dodgy heel. (8)
43. A long queue of slowly-moving or stationary traffic caused by an obstruction on the road. (8)
47. Open to new ideas, favouring individual liberty and social reform. (7)
49. Scanty, in short supply. (6)
51. A person holding beliefs other than those of the main world religions. (5)
53. A short coffee without caffeine. (5)
55. Carried by hand. (5)
57. This country was once known as the Gold Coast. (5)
58. At a great distance. (4)
61. Block the way to an inn. (3)
